THE PLANT
ONE INGREDIENT, THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN THE MAKING
South Africans have been turning to Sceletium Tortuosum for centuries.
We found the best version of it and put it in a can.
WHAT IS SCELETIUM TORTUOSUM?
NOT ALL KANNA IS ZEMBRIN®, BUT OURS IS
Zembrin® is a patented extract of Sceletium tortuosum — a succulent native to South Africa, more commonly known as kanna. It has a long documented history of traditional use among the Khoi-San people for lifting spirits.
In 1705, explorer Peter Kolbe called it “the greatest cheerer of the spirits.”
Zembrin® isn’t just any kanna. It’s a specific, patented cultivar, one proprietary strain, extracted in one precise way, to produce the same alkaloid profile in every single batch. This means that the same plant, using the same extraction gives you the same experience, in every can. Nobody else can source it and nobody else can make it. We use it because it’s simply the best version of this ingredient that exists.
THE DETAILS
ZEMBRIN® IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED KANNA EXTRACT
The ingredient Zembrin® has been studied for general wellness use*. It's caffeine-free, warm, clear, and easy.
This is exactly why we use one ingredient instead of ten: one botanical that's been standardized, rather than a stack of them that haven't.
*This product itself has not been evaluated by the FDA.
SEED TO CAN
A BETTER INGREDIENT HAS A BETTER STORY
Sceletium tortuosum is a protected species — wild harvesting isn’t sustainable and isn’t legal for commercial use. Zembrin® is grown through a seed-to-shelf program: every plant traceable from an individual seed, verified against the Zembrin® alkaloid “fingerprint” before it ever reaches production.
Zembrin® was awarded Bioprospecting Export Permit #001 from the South African government — the first ever issued for Sceletium tortuosum. It’s endorsed by the South African San Council, who hold the cultural and traditional knowledge of this plant. And for every unit sold, the San community receives a royalty.
When you crack open an On the Brightside, you're doing more than drinking a soda — you're supporting the very community that's stewarded this plant for generations, with a little of every sale going right back to them.
What will it feel like?
Calm, clear, and a little lighter. One of our customers put it best:
"Like putting on your most comfortable clothing."
-Mike B. | verified buyer
What makes this work?
One ingredient: Zembrin® is a standardized extract from a South African succulent (also known as kanna) with a long history of traditional use.
Why only one functional ingredient?
Because one great thing done right beats ten mediocre things done vaguely.
Most brands stack ashwagandha, magnesium, and whatever else made the trend report, hoping something works. We use just one functional ingredient, so you always know what you're getting.
When should I drink it?
Anytime. Morning meeting, afternoon slump, first date jitters, a night out where you want to be present, or whenever someone's testing your patience, and you'd rather stay chill and unbothered.
On the Brightside is caffeine-free, so there's no wrong time to crack one open.
What are the ingredients?
Strawberry Sunshine is made with carbonated water, crystallized lemon, organic natural flavors, citric acid, malic acid, fermented Reb M, vegetable juice (for color), and Sceletium Tortuosum extract (aerial parts).
Guava Glow is made with carbonated water, organic natural flavors, citric acid, malic acid, fermented Reb M (Onosweet®), vegetable juice (for color), and Sceletium Tortuosum extract (aerial parts).
All On the Brightside fizzy drinks are sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan.